Steel E90C-B9
E90C-B9 is a modified 9Cr-1Mo-V (P91-type) composite cored electrode for welding creep-strength-enhanced ferritic steels in power generation equipment.
Reference datasheet — E90C-B9 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the PWHT760 condition
E90C-B9 tempers and conditions
E90C-B9 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. PWHT760 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
760 °C, 4–8 h (heavy-section / multiple thermal cycles) | Choose for thick headers/pipe or repeated PWHT cycles: softer, tougher weld metal at the cost of some room-temperature strength. | 545 | 660 | 22 | 19 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Normalized and tempered | Used when the whole weldment can be re-normalized (shop-fabricated components) to fully restore a uniform tempered-martensite structure. | 580 | 700 | 22 | 21 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
PWHT760Default PWHT | Standard delivery/service condition: the AWS A5.29 classification properties are measured after this temper, and code work requires it. | 600 | 710 | 20 | 23 HRC | — |
As-welded deposit | Interim condition only — never leave 9Cr-1Mo-V weld metal in service as-welded; hardness and residual stress are far too high. | 900 | 1,150 | 9 | 43 HRC | — |
What is E90C-B9?
E90C-B9 is a modified 9Cr-1Mo-V (P91-type) composite cored electrode for welding creep-strength-enhanced ferritic steels in power generation equipment. It is chosen for high-temperature steam service to 600 °C, with a post-weld heat treated deposit of 600 MPa yield, 710 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation and 245 HB (23 HRC), supplied as spooled cored wire. The martensitic deposit demands strict thermal control — preheat, controlled cooling and a mandatory temper — and machinability is limited (score 35). It is not stainless and will rust during outages; for 2.25Cr service use E90C-B3. E90C-B9 has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). E90C-B9 has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 710 MPa (103 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 218 GPa (31.6 Msi).
What is E90C-B9 used for?
- P91/T91 boiler tubing
- Advanced ultra-supercritical power plants
- High-temperature steam piping
- Petrochemical high-temperature vessels
Advantages
- High service temperature — 600°C (1,112 °F), better than 98% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 30/100, better than 95% of steel grades
- High strength — 600 MPa (87 ksi), better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
E90C-B9 properties
Typical room-temperature values for E90C-B9-PWHT760; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
E90C-B9 has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical15
E90C-B9 has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 710 MPa (103 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 218 GPa (31.6 Msi).
Thermal6
E90C-B9 is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.8 µm/m·K (6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
E90C-B9 has an electrical resistivity of 6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (30/100), better than 95% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of E90C-B9 takes about 38 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
E90C-B9's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. E90C-B9 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with E90C-B9
Is E90C-B9 easy to machine?
Machine only after PWHT (≤265 HB); as-welded martensite at ~400 HB needs carbide or CBN tooling and rigid setups.
Can E90C-B9 be welded?
Preheat 200–250 °C, interlayer max ~300 °C, Ar-CO₂ shielding, cool to 80–100 °C to transform, then mandatory temper at 750–770 °C for 2 h min; avoid dissimilar dilution with austenitic or Ni-rich fillers.
Can E90C-B9 be formed, bent or molded?
Not applicable — deposited weld metal; joint preparation and pipe bending are done on the base metal before welding.
E90C-B9 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.08 – 0.13 | 0.1 |
| MnMn+Ni typically limited to 1.40–1.50 % max | 0.4 – 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 8 – 10.5 | 9 |
| Mo | 0.85 – 1.2 | 1 |
| V | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Nbcolumbium | 0.02 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| NN/Al ratio controlled for creep strength | 0.02 – 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Nikept low to keep Ac1 high | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Al | ≤ 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on E90C-B9?
Grind/blast and apply high-temperature aluminium-silicone paint or insulate; the alloy is not stainless and will rust during outages.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel E90C-B9 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- AWS E90C-B9AWS E55C-B9
How much does E90C-B9 cost?
E90C-B9 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
E90C-B9 — frequently asked
What is E90C-B9 used for?
E90C-B9 is typically used for P91/T91 boiler tubing, advanced ultra-supercritical power plants, high-temperature steam piping and petrochemical high-temperature vessels. In short: P91-grade 600 °C deposit; highest creep strength in family; requires strict PWHT control.
What is the yield strength of E90C-B9?
E90C-B9 has a typical yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 710 MPa (103 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is E90C-B9 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine only after PWHT (≤265 HB); as-welded martensite at ~400 HB needs carbide or CBN tooling and rigid setups.
Can E90C-B9 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Preheat 200–250 °C, interlayer max ~300 °C, Ar-CO₂ shielding, cool to 80–100 °C to transform, then mandatory temper at 750–770 °C for 2 h min; avoid dissimilar dilution with austenitic or Ni-rich fillers.
What surface finishes work on E90C-B9?
Grind/blast and apply high-temperature aluminium-silicone paint or insulate; the alloy is not stainless and will rust during outages.
Can E90C-B9 be formed, bent or molded?
Not applicable — deposited weld metal; joint preparation and pipe bending are done on the base metal before welding.
What is the maximum service temperature of E90C-B9?
E90C-B9 is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between E90C-B9 PWHT760 and E90C-B9-AW?
PWHT760 is the default condition — standard delivery/service condition: the AWS A5.29 classification properties are measured after this temper, and code work requires it. AW: interim condition only — never leave 9Cr-1Mo-V weld metal in service as-welded; hardness and residual stress are far too high. Yield strength is 600 MPa in PWHT760 versus 900 MPa in AW.
How much does E90C-B9 cost?
E90C-B9 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- AWS A5.29/A5.29M — Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Flux Cored Arc Welding — American Welding Society (2010)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part C (SFA-5.29) and Part D (Grade 91 physical properties) — ASME (2023)
- ASTM A335/A335M — Seamless Ferritic Alloy-Steel Pipe (Grade P91) — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (Cr-Mo steels) — ASM International (1993)
- Metal-cored / flux-cored 9Cr-1Mo-V welding consumable datasheets — Böhler Welding / Lincoln Electric / Kobelco (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.